UP Legislative Council briefly adjourned over law and order

The Uttar PradeshLegislative Council held on Monday, briefly adjourned following uproar by Opposition over prevailing law and order situation in the state. The issue was raised by Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and BJP members through adjournment notice demanding a debate on the subject.

Om Prakash Sharma of the Teachers' Group alleged that there was a 'jungle raj' in the state. Raising the incident of slain BJP leader Vijay Pandit, he said that his family, local traders were raising questions on the role of police and have lost faith in them, therefore the government should have no problem in going for a CBI inquiry.

Opposition BJP member Vinod Pandey said that there was no other option than a CBI inquiry into Pandit murder case. Opposition BSP member R S Kushwaha raised the issue of alleged assault on Dalits in Karchan in Allahabad by strongmen and police lodging case against the victims.

Leader of the Opposition Naseemuddin Siddiqui claimed that he had the list of 1,145 criminal incidents in the state in the month of May. He said the family members of Badaun case refused to accept financial assistance being given by the government. He said that the entire house wanted a debate for two hours on the issue of law and order.

In his reply, Leader of the House Ahmad Hasan said that in Karchana incident, serious sections imposed on Dalits had been withdrawn and in Badaun case five accused had been arrested. He accused the Opposition of "defaming" the government on which Siddiqui alleged that Hasan was "misleading" the house.

Dissatisfied with the the government response, BSP members walked into the well raising slogans against the government. Chairman Ganesh Shanker Pandey requested the members to take their seats, but when the uproar continued the house was adjourned for 15 minutes, which was extended by 10 minutes. When the proceeding of the house started again Leader of the Opposition and other members raised the demand of debate on the notice. The chairman while rejecting the notice accepted an hour-long debate on the issue.